If you’ve ever walked down the Seven Sisters Road on a match day, you know it's not just about football. It's a vibe. A heavy, nervous, slightly aggressive vibe that's been simmering for over a century. Honestly, the Arsenal F.C. vs Tottenham rivalry—the North London Derby—is probably the most authentic "hate-thy-neighbor" story in the Premier League.
People talk about "history," but usually, they just mean old trophies. In North London, history is a 1913 land dispute. It’s Arsenal moving from Woolwich to Highbury and Spurs fans basically saying, "Get off our lawn."
They never did.
The Most Recent Chaos: November 2025
Let’s get straight to the point. The last time these two met on November 23, 2025, it was a bloodbath. Not literally, obviously, but on the scoreboard.
Arsenal walked away with a 4-1 win at the Emirates. Eberechi Eze, the guy Arsenal signed to add some "spark," didn't just spark—he detonated. He scored a hat-trick. The first one in this fixture for nearly 50 years. Imagine being a Spurs fan, traveling a few miles down the road, and watching a "boyhood Gooner" who your club reportedly passed on as a kid, put three past Guglielmo Vicario.
It was brutal.
Leandro Trossard started the party in the 36th minute. Then Eze took over. He scored in the 40th, 46th, and 76th minutes. Richarlison managed a consolation goal for Tottenham—a weird 40-yard lob that caught David Raya off his line—but it didn't matter.
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The stats tell a story of total dominance. Arsenal had 56% possession and looked like they were playing a different sport for large chunks of the game. Tottenham, under Thomas Frank (who’s been trying to steady a very rocky ship), looked lost.
- Arsenal Goals: Trossard (36'), Eze (40', 46', 76')
- Tottenham Goal: Richarlison (55')
- The Fallout: Arsenal went six points clear at the top; Spurs dropped to 9th.
Why This Rivalry is Different
You’ve got the Merseyside Derby and the Manchester Derby, but those feel a bit more... corporate? The Arsenal F.C. vs Tottenham clash feels personal.
Most people get the "territory" part wrong. It's not just about who lives where. It's about the "St. Tottingham's Day" taunts. It’s about the fact that Arsenal has won the league at White Hart Lane twice—once in 1971 and again with the "Invincibles" in 2004. Spurs fans haven't forgotten. They likely won't for another hundred years.
There is a genuine complexity to the squad dynamics right now. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta has built a machine. They brought in Martin Zubimendi to anchor the midfield, and it’s working. On the other side, Spurs are in a weird transition. They've spent big—£55 million on Mohammed Kudus, £51 million on Xavi Simons—but the "Spursy" tag is hard to shake when you lose 4-1 to your biggest rivals.
The Internal Turmoil at Spurs
It’s not just the results on the pitch. Following recent losses, things have gotten spicy in the Spurs locker room. Cristian Romero—the captain, mind you—publicly called out the club hierarchy on Instagram. He used the word "lies." That’s not something you see every day from a club captain.
Then you had Joao Palhinha and Micky van de Ven getting into it with their own fans after a defeat to Bournemouth. When the players and the fans start clashing, the North London Derby becomes a terrifying prospect.
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Tactical Nuance: The Merino Factor
Mikel Merino has become the unsung hero for Arsenal in these big games. In the November derby, he only attempted 26 passes, but every single one felt like a dagger. He’s the one who found Trossard for the opener. While everyone is watching Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard, Merino is basically the architect in the shadows.
Tottenham’s biggest weakness right now? Conceding right before halftime. They've conceded six goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half this season. Arsenal knows this. They exploit it.
The "Eze" Narrative Everyone Missed
Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick wasn't just a statistical anomaly. It was a narrative masterpiece. Eze was released by Arsenal when he was 13. He went to QPR, then Crystal Palace, and finally came "home" in the summer of 2025.
For him to score three against Spurs in his first ever North London Derby is the kind of stuff scriptwriters reject for being too cliché. But it happened. He rejected interest from Tottenham to join Arsenal. That hurts if you're a Spurs supporter. It’s one thing to lose; it’s another to be rejected by the guy who then destroys you.
Head-to-Head: The Brutal Reality
If we look at the all-time record, it’s not particularly pretty for the Lilywhites.
| Competition | Arsenal Wins | Tottenham Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Time (200+ games) | 85 | 61 | 52 |
| Premier League Era | 22 | 15 | 23 |
The gap is widening. Arsenal has won six of the last seven encounters.
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What’s Next for Both Clubs?
Arsenal is chasing a title. They’re currently fighting off a rejuvenated Chelsea and a Manchester City side that never seems to quit. For them, Arsenal F.C. vs Tottenham is a stepping stone to a trophy.
For Tottenham, it’s about identity. They have world-class talent like Son Heung-min (even in the twilight of his career), James Maddison, and the new arrivals like Conor Gallagher. But they lack the "identity" that Arteta has instilled at the Emirates.
If you're looking for actionable insights on how this rivalry evolves, keep an eye on the defensive transitions. Spurs' high line is suicidal against a team with the pace of Gabriel Martinelli and the clinical finishing of Eze. Until Thomas Frank fixes the "conceding before the break" issue, Arsenal will continue to dominate this fixture.
To really understand the current state of play, you have to look at the bench. Arsenal's depth is insane now. They have Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus coming off the bench. Spurs have talent, but they don't have that "squad-wide" belief yet.
The next derby is already circled on the calendar. If Romero is still at the club and if the fans have forgiven Palhinha, maybe it'll be closer. But right now? North London is undeniably red.
Actionable Insights for the Next Derby:
- Watch the 30-45 minute mark: This is where Tottenham consistently collapses.
- Keep an eye on the Merino-Zubimendi pivot: This is the most underrated midfield duo in Europe right now.
- Check the social media temperature: If Romero or other senior Spurs players are still "posting through it," expect a lack of cohesion on the pitch.
- Track Eze's positioning: He’s playing as a hybrid 10/LW that most right-backs (including Pedro Porro) are struggling to track.
The rivalry isn't just about the 90 minutes. It's about the Monday morning at work. It's about the "What do we think of Tottenham?" chants that still echo around Islington. And as of 2026, the answer to that question, at least according to the scoreboard, hasn't changed much.